Mason awarded Cabinet Officeβs Pygmalion Framework Agreement

Mason Communications, a leading independent consultancy specialising in telecoms and IT (www.mason.biz), has gained a unique position on the Cabinet Officeβs Pygmalion Specialist IT Suppliers Framework Agreement.

Mason was required to undergo rigorous evaluation and qualification, and eventually was selected to join a short list of public sector service providers that form the Pygmalion Specialist IT Suppliers catalogue. Mason was the only organisation to be awarded three Framework Lots, and as such will be able to support consultancy requirements within Lot 1: Strategic Consultancy; Lot 3: Specialist Data Services; and Lot 4: Security Testing and verification.

The Cabinet Officeβs key objective for the Pygmalion Framework is to provide access to niche specialists to assist with proof of concepts and prototypes, supporting the role of Government Gateway and similar cross-Government applications in the Transformational Government agenda. The Pygmalion Framework can be accessed by all public sector organisations to call upon specialist skills and resources, using a Memorandum of Understanding. Specialist projects are expected to be up to the value of Β£250,000, and the framework agreement will last for four years.

Competition for the Pygmalion Framework Agreement was intense, and Mason had to demonstrate agility, technical innovation and collaborative working, in addition to being proven specialists in niche areas of ICT.

The Pygmalion Framework Agreement supports the Government e-Delivery teamβs (EDT) Government Gateway Alliance Programme (GGAP). The GGAPβs objective is to establish and formalise key partnerships with IT and business suppliers to allow them to:

- integrate with and deliver common infrastructure products and any supporting solutions direct to their new and existing customer base within Government

- assist the EDT in the innovative delivery of the Transformational Government Agenda.

The EDT acknowledges the added value that Mason is able to contribute working alongside it to deliver Government Gateway services to EDT customers. Mason will help enable the EDT to gain additional channels to drive the take-up of EDT products and services to a greater number of Government departments.

Alex Smith, Managing Director of Mason commented, βThis win underpins our activity within the public sector and a continued support of the Transformational Government Agenda. Mason welcomes the opportunity to embrace the EDT vision, and to work collaboratively with the chosen specialist SME suppliers to provide innovative thought leadership and solutions on a wide range of Government-led ICT initiatives. The award of the Pygmalion Framework also complements our recent success in gaining acceptance on the Catalist Telecom Networks Framework Agreementβ.

About Mason (www.mason.biz)
Mason is a leading independent consultancy, operating internationally, and specialising in telecoms and IT. Delivering world-class solutions to a global base of public sector and blue-chip clients, Mason has expertise across a wide range of technologies, enabling it to develop, procure and assess solutions to best suit our clientsβ specific business needs. Mason is part of the Analysys Mason Group, the leading telecoms specialist able to provide both strategy and implementation consultancy, together with research and market intelligence services. Analysys Mason Group also encompasses Analysys Research, Analysys Consulting and Catalyst.
Mason has a proven track record in the delivery and support of a wide range of ICT transformation programmes and projects within most government departments. Clients include: Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department of Health, NPIA, Prison Services, NOMS, HM Customers & Excise, DCSA, Depa, National Audit Office NHS, Transport Executives, Scottish Executive, and regulators (including Ofcom). Within local government, and the wider public sector, our clients include: councils, regional development agencies, NHS trusts and ambulance service, the fire service, and over two-thirds of the UK police forces.

About the e-Delivery Team (EDT) (www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk)
The e-Delivery Team is a part of the Cabinet Office and forms part of the eβGovernment Unit. The Cabinet Office has its overarching aim βmaking Government work betterβ. Cabinet Office is taking a lead to step change the capability of the Civil Service as a whole and has the challenge of delivering a transformation across the Civil Service. Delivery and Transformation Group seek improvements to public sector service delivery models for the benefit of citizens, businesses. This involves steps to achieve the effective delivery of technology for Government.
EDT is secretariat to the cross Government Public Infrastructure Board, which reports to the Chief Technology Officerβs Council. EDT supports a shared service culture, and is responsible for a set of products that have evolved from the Government Gateway, a mission critical ICT application for online Government services.